About five years ago, while living in a small house with a small backyard, I was fortunate to be introduced to bokashi composting. Whereas standard compost piles rely on the presence of oxygen for decomposition to occur, the bokashi method is a two-step process in which the first step occurs in the absence of oxygen. This composting method takes less space and less tending than a traditional compost pile.
By Adam Jankauskas
Compost is recognized as a valuable component of the ecological landscape and many ecological landscape practitioners utilize compost in the management of their properties. Compost has a place in a more sustainable world but providing composting services for clients can be unsustainable. How can composting be made easier without the added expense?
by Darrah Cole and Anthony Ruggiero
In 2016, The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy began an exploration of leaf much, or leaf mold, as an alternative to the bark/compost mulch blend previously used. They found both positive results and a few concerns over the course of two years.
ELA invited a few members to talk about the compost they use, how they are utilizing that resource, and their compost sources. They also offer tips for managing soil.
by Tara Mitchell John Engwer, owner of Groundscapes Express, and Butch Goodwin, Operations Manager, led Ecological Landscaping Alliance participants on a tour of Groundscapes’ composting facility in Wrentham, MA explaining how compost is made and discussing the many benefits and uses of compost in the landscape. Through knowledge, training, and most importantly, years of experience…
by Paul Kwiatkowski Mount Auburn is not only America’s first garden cemetery, but an arboretum with more than 6,000 trees from around the globe. For those of you who have had the opportunity to visit and explore the grounds, I hope you were so entranced by the trees, gardens, monuments, and wildlife that many return…
by Geoffrey Kuter, Ph.D. Composts are highly versatile and valuable products with multiple uses in sustainable landscaping. When using composts made from waste materials, carbon and nutrients are recycled to the soil and the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and by product from landfill disposal, is reduced.
Text and images reprinted with permission of New England Wildflower Society. by Nate McCullin When entering the 2011 growing season I had many questions floating around in my mind regarding the impact of compost and compost tea on the soil and plant health at Garden in the Woods. I was skeptical about believing all the…
by Carl Brodeur For years I was unhappy with the results of our tree fertility program using available fertilizers on the market. Then, after attending a talk by Dr. Elaine Ingham on the Soil Foodweb, my partner and I decided to try compost teas. Once we experienced the power of compost tea on a lawn…
